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Re: [RC] [Guest] Adios - Tiffany D'Virgilioon 9/26/03 6:57 AM, Ridecamp Moderator at ridecamp-moderator@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote: I feel that many of the horses were over ridden at the PAC. The terrain was difficult, the elevations were high, the temperatures were extreme. As a result, I saw approximately half of the horses pulled because of lameness or metabolic failures. In my opinion, many, many horses were in extreme danger of death due to metabolic failure. The vets and assistants treated and kept the IV's running on several horses all night long, with no break, virtually saving several horses' lives. I can only state, after being there, that the vets showed utmost responsibility, professionalism, respect and extreme care to the horses that were treated by them. At no point did I ever see anything but total integrity in handling of the horses by vets and staff. I'm going to say it. This whole discussion and this post in particular are extremely disturbing to me. Especially as a person who has only been doing endurance rides for over a year. You all spend so much time telling us new guys to go slow, all about the welfare of the horse, but when it comes down to the big guns at the big rides (races, quite obviously) they ride the horses to the point of lameness, metabolic failure and death. We saw this at the WEC, past PAC's, this one, Pam-ams, etc. Shouldn't the most experienced riders show their concern about the welfare of the horse too? Is the top echelon of our sport exempt from "To finish is to win"? Has it only become to win is to win? The symptoms that Darolyn described in both her horses that died scared me. I would have rather died than to push a horse that I knew wasn't right. Running up front at this elite level seems to be darned detrimental to these horses. I live in the PS region and at each of the 4 rides I have done, I saw no horse in treatment. The rides all have lots of elevation change, temps that went from 115 to about 50 degrees. Does anyone bother to think of what these "championship" rides show to the newer and less experienced endurance rider? To me championship means a healthy, happy, sound partner at the end of a ride. Not horses in treatment and horses on the verge of death. I'm sorry if it is totally politically incorrect of me to pose these questions. I will say that this has cemented two things for me. I want to keep pursuing this sport. I will never probably ever try to top ten or win a ride. I love me horse-so much so that her welfare is always before mine. At Cinquenta Anos we would have top 10'd. However, I was launched into some slate and paid with a trip to the hospital. I thank God it was me and not my mare. I noticed that she was more tired and a little more...I don't know, something intangible, but just not quite right. Our pace was MUCH faster than ever before. She still VC'ed with all A's. She was just a little more tired than usual on the big hills and that was a worrisome thing to me. At that point we started going much slower with me walking and stopping frequently for water and rests. Thank you God for letting me get hurt before I could hurt my mare by letting her run too fast for too long. And another big thanks for a lesson well learned by not only that day, but the stories of horses pushed past their physical limits. This has driven home that I do this sport because I love my horse, I love riding, and I adore most of the people I have come across so far in this sport. I DO NOT do this sport or riding for anything other than that. Not for recognition, not for prizes, but for doing something that makes both my and my mare's souls soar. I'm afraid that running up front confuses that issue now more than ever. I really believe that those at the top of this sport have a responsibility to the sport itself. Which I think means doing what is right by the horses involved. I know there are MANY top riders who care deeply about their mounts, what scares me is again that some seem to have a motto of "to win is to win". I need to go read Julie's book again. It heartens me greatly when these discussions come up. Tiffany =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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